Discover the key differences between iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. From urgent reminders and lock screen personalization on iPhone to multitasking gestures and health tracking on iPad, learn how Apple’s December 2025 updates enhance productivity, privacy, and performance across devices.
| Category | iOS 26.2 (iPhone) | iPadOS 26.2 (iPad) |
|---|---|---|
| Release Timeline | December 8–16, 2025 (RC seeded Dec 3) | December 8–16, 2025 (RC seeded Dec 3) |
| Supported Devices | iPhone 11 and newer (Apple Intelligence limited to iPhone 15 Pro+) | iPad 7th gen and newer (Apple Intelligence limited to newer iPads) |
| Productivity | New Urgent Reminders alarm with sound alerts for critical tasks | Return of Split View & Slide Over multitasking gestures |
| Lock Screen | Expanded Liquid Glass clock opacity slider for personalization | Refined menu animations for smoother navigation |
| Collaboration | Freeform app improvements for shared canvases | Freeform app improvements (same as iOS) |
| Entertainment | Apple Music lyric sync refinements, Podcasts discovery upgrades | Apple Music lyric sync refinements, Podcasts discovery upgrades |
| AirDrop | Smarter sharing with “Everyone for 10 Minutes” privacy control | Same AirDrop improvements, integrated across iPad and iPhone ecosystems |
| Health Features | Expanded Health app integration | HealthKit API adds hypertension notifications for developers |
| Security | Expanded end‑to‑end iCloud encryption | Expanded end‑to‑end iCloud encryption |
| Performance | Bug fixes, system optimizations, smoother multitasking | Bug fixes, system optimizations, smoother animations |
| Apple Intelligence | Advanced AI features (iPhone 15 Pro+) | Limited AI features on newer iPads |
🧭 Key Takeaways
- iOS 26.2 focuses on personalization and reminders, making iPhones smarter for daily productivity.
- iPadOS 26.2 emphasizes multitasking and workflow refinements, restoring classic gestures that power users missed.
- Both updates share AirDrop privacy, Freeform collaboration, and Apple Music/Podcasts enhancements, but diverge in how they tailor experiences to each device’s strengths.
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